Page 86 - Viva ICSE Science 4 : E-book

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Materials and Solutions

We have already studied in the previous class that KEY CONCEPTS
most of the substances dissolve in water to form
• Solution and its components
a solution. Let’s learn more about solutions in this
• Soluble and insoluble substances
chapter. • Methods of separation of soluble

and insoluble substances
Solution and Its Components

Solution is a type of liquid mixture in which two or more substances mix together evenly.

A solution mainly consists of two components—a solute and a solvent.

The substance that dissolves is called solute while the solute
other substance in which the solute dissolves is called
mix
solvent. Solute substances can be solids, liquids or gases.
The solvents are generally liquid. The quantity of solvent, in solvent
a solution, is always more than the quantity of solute. But

we cannot diff erentiate between these two substances in
the solution. The ability of a substance to dissolve is called solution
solubility. For example, when we mix some common salt in water, we cannot see the salt
particles after the solution is made. This is because salt dissolves evenly in water, making

a salt solution. In the given example, common salt is the solute, water is the solvent and
the salt water formed is the solution. Some other examples of solutions in our everyday

life are mixing of sugar in milk and mixing of coff ee powder in milk.
Did you ever notice that when we think about
mix
a solution, we always think about water? This is
because water is a good solvent since it dissolves water

a variety of substances easily than any other liquid. salt
Hence, it is called a universal solvent. salt solution

Soluble and Insoluble Substances

When we add a solid in a liquid, the solid will either dissolve completely in the liquid
or it will not dissolve at all. For example, if we add sugar in water, we will notice that it

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